Abstract
During the summer of 2019, cases of lung injury associated with vaping emerged in North America, including among individuals who reported exclusive use of nicotine vaping liquids. Once vitamin E acetate was identified as a potential causative agent a quantitative method based on a simple sample dilution, separation by gas chromatography and analysis by triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC MSMS) was developed. Method detection limit (MDL) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were determined at 0.159 µg/mL and 0.505 µg/mL, respectively. The analysis was performed on a subset of 203 commercially sourced nicotine containing vaping liquids of various flavour profile and nicotine range (nicotine free-59 mg/mL) from an internal inventory. The target analyte, Vitamin E Acetate, was not detected in any samples analyzed, as expected, given the reported detection in literature and high association of the chemical with cannabis and not nicotine containing vaping products.
Highlights
E-cigarettes or vaping products are battery-powered, alternative nicotine delivery systems that vaporize a formulation of vaping liquid or e-liquid
In order to account for matrix effects the six level calibration was performed using the standard addition method, where diluted samples were fortified with known concentrations of Vitamin E Acetate
While vitamin E acetate is a suspected cause of majority of EVALI cases in United States, more than half of cases reported in Canada appear to be associated with nicotinecontaining vaping liquids (Government Of Canada 2020)
Summary
E-cigarettes or vaping products are battery-powered, alternative nicotine delivery systems that vaporize a formulation of vaping liquid or e-liquid. Diluents of concern in vaping products solvents, propylene glycol (PG) and/or vegetable glycerine (VG), nicotine and flavours. The formulation generates additional chemical compounds in the emissions, resulting in a complex exposure pattern to users of these products. In spite of potential health risks, vaping provides nicotine delivery with lower exposures to chemicals of concern for the individuals who smoke (Goniewicz et al, 2018). Users of open systems can refill or customize vaping liquids to be used, the most frequently, with a modifiable, custom power setting, vaping device. The vaping or heating principle is used for delivery of other substances such as those containing cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis vaping products
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